A Face Never Covered with Shame

Today's Reading:
AM - Psalm 93 and 96
PM - Psalm 34
Gospel - Mark 5:1-20

For reflection: How has Jesus shown mercy to you?

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Psalm 34:4-5: “I sought the Lord and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears.  Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”

God’s mercy hides our shame and guilt.  Shame is a sickness of the soul; a violation of our dignity as people created in God’s image.  In my life, I’ve lived with the shame of not feeling good enough; I call it ‘not good-enoughitis’.   I keep thinking that I can do enough to gain God’s favor.  It’s a sickness that only God’s mercy can cure.

I’m not the only one who suffers from this malady.  It’s an epidemic affecting many Christians.  When I feel a ‘not good enough’ episode coming on, I have to remember that God is sovereign; totally in control.  I have to remind myself that He is the one who made everything my eyes will ever see.  He answers when I seek His guidance and delivers me from my fears.  When I look to Him, my spiritual illness is covered.  He always has my back.  His Covenant with us is totally one-sided, and the resurrected Jesus took all my shame and guilt on his back.

I don’t know about you, but I just want to rest in that assurance.

- Sandy Welfare